Deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies into cyclonic storm ‘Titli’

Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over west-central Bay of Bengal intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Titli’ on Tuesday afternoon, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) today. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours and cross Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam around Thursday morning, it said. “The deep depression over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 08 kmph during past 06 hours and intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ‘TITLI’ and lay cantered at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 09th October 2018 over Westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 14.8°N and longitude 86.7°E, about 530 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 480 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh),” it said. “It is very likely to intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards for some more time, then northwestwards and cross Odisha & adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Gopalpur & Kalingapatnam around morning of 11th October,” it warned. Thereafter, it is very likely to re-curve northeastwards, move towards Gangetic West Bengal across coastal Odisha and weaken gradually. Under its impact squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely to commence along and off Odisha coast from Tuesday night which is very likely to increase gradually becoming 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph from Wednesday evening onwards along and off south Odisha coast and 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph along and off north Odisha coast, the IMD warned. Meanwhile, the Government issued alert to all districts, particularly the districts of coastal region, to deal with the situation. The district collectors have been asked to remain alert and make necessary arrangements to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas. Meanwhile, at least 14 districts were asked to be on high alert from Thursday morning to Friday morning. The districts are Kalahandi, Boudh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara. Collectors of these districts have been asked to be on high alert from 8.30 am on Thursday to 8.30 am on Friday to face the ensuing situation.